Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 378: Avril's Comfort

Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 378: Avril's Comfort

"I'm surprised you have grade-three spells. Though, the rest of your spells were grade two." Oscar said. Taren lay before his feet, weakened and injured. His gasps and pained grunts didn't evoke a single bout of pity from Oscar. What sort of pity did this person deserve?

The battle interested Oscar. He glanced at Taren and the earth user, recalling the tiniest of details, including the flow of their Ein. He knew for certain they used Ein Awaken. His master mentioned Exalts touch upon it in the Knight Exalt realm, and now he had seen it in action. Though, their usage paled in comparison to his.

"Who...are you?" Taren choked through his words.

"Boss!" The other Lower Knight Exalts shouted. None could move because of the constant vines and roots entangling them. The moment one burst into flames, more sprouted to replace it, an infinite cycle of entrapment until Avril would have no more Ein.

"Nicely done!" Avril unfurled a section of her scroll anima and recovered her Ein from the boost. With that and her preliminary Ein Awaken, she had no problems keeping up her spells. "What should we do with them?"

"Who knows?" Oscar turned to Chief Suri and Old Yule, who came out after the battle. "Hello. I am not a marauder or bandit. How do you want to deal with them? You can decide since they came to your home."

Chief Suri looked to have grown more wrinkles. He limped to Oscar and Taren, who was lifted to lean on the wall. His frown deepened, and his eyes dropped from the exhaustion of his thoughts. He sat down with a heavy sigh. "Will you take responsibility if you kill them? Our small village cannot survive on its own. We need a protector, a watcher to ensure our prosperity."

"No. I joined in to stop them from taking your people. I will not be your Guardian. I have someplace to be." Oscar replied. The weakened chief slumped his shoulders from hearing Oscar's response.

"Then don't kill them. Taren, there is nothing I can offer you. This one man defeated you and Ras without much trouble. How can you talk of war when you lose like this? At least you owe me this favor for not killing you. If war is coming, you can do nothing to protect us."

"Bastard Suri. Will you lie down and die when the enemy comes to your village?" Taren supported himself from falling. His ragged breath betrayed the imposing demeanor he tried to display. After a glance at Oscar and Chief Suri, he gritted his teeth. "Fine. Let's see how long you survive without my protection."

Taren called to his subordinates, freed from Avril's bindings. They hurried over with their other unconscious members, helped Taren and Ras, the earth user, to the beast, and hastily rode out of Tung Village. All of this happened under Oscar's watchful eye.

"Now then, can we talk?" Oscar asked Chief Suri.

"Brother Oscar!" A wild and enthusiastic shout came from Quinn. He interrupted the chief before he could speak and ran toward Oscar. He behaved like a clingy cat. "That was amazing! You're so strong. How did you get so strong? Can you teach me?Ne/w novel chapters are p/u/blished on no/vel(/bin(.)c/o/m

"I'm brother now?" Oscar sighed. In the end, power was what earned respect and admiration. Quinn's attitude toward him went down several levels. Before Oscar could answer, a large smack came from Old Yule. A loud slap echoed, followed by Quinn's yelp of pain.

"If you have questions, wait your turn until they're finished," Old Yule scolded Quinn. She looked at Oscar with eyes slightly widened, "You're quite strong for a recently advanced Middle Knight Exalt. This old one wonders how our encounter would have turned out if we fought."

"Thank you for your gift of water. The others will enjoy this gift. Be wary of the Four Lords." Chief Suri bowed.

Oscar and the others bade the village farewell, a gathering of weary men, women, and children. They returned to Old Yule's stone hut and rested for what was considered nighttime.

"Oscar. What are you thinking of?" Avril asked while brushing Erden's frazzled fur.

"Am I that obvious?" Oscar chuckled, glancing at the sleeping Old Yule and Quinn.

"Well, you always have wrinkles on your forehead and stretch your lips when you think too much. What is it?" Avril asked. She undid her braids and let her hair rest down her shoulders.

"It's been sixteen years. I want to go home. Every time I thought I was getting a step closer to home, it never went the way I wanted. Even if we get the knowledge from one of the Lords, what if it ends up nowhere?" Oscar sighed. He tried to keep his spirits up, but after sixteen years, he had slowly gotten tired of it. Even Gol-4's persistent words in his mind lacked their usual punch.

Suddenly, a pair of hands blocked his eyes and forced his head back. He landed on something soft. From the pulse he heard underneath, he realized he was lying on Avril's lap.

"She feels sorry for Oscar. Sixteen years away from his friends and family, she tells him a surefire way to cheer up. First, lie down and think only about tomorrow. Tell me, Oscar. What will we do tomorrow?" Avril's voice echoed in his ears.

"Tomorrow? I don't know. Old Yule said the paths to the large town are closed off due to the lava overflow. We'll be staying here for a week." Oscar groaned.

"Then, tomorrow, we'll be looking around the area, a brand new journey on the outskirts of Burning Valley. Now repeat that." Avril said.

"Looking around the area...." Oscar sighed. Then her hands left his eyes. He saw Avril staring straight down with a bright smile.

"Now, repeat that in your mind a thousand times. Over and over until it keeps going." Avril cupped his ears. Strange feedback happened, invisible waves flowing around in his ear as if he was diving into the ocean.

Playing along, Oscar repeated Avril's plan for tomorrow in his mind. The words started to blur, and his head felt light. The lightheadedness of his mind, his ears blocked, and the softness under his head came together, bringing him peace. He could only think about what he'll do tomorrow with Avril and fell asleep comfortably for the first time in a while.

Avril hummed and placed a finger on Oscar's sleeping face. With a stern voice, she said, "Demon, don't come out now. Let him rest truly."